The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-09-08
DROUGHTS AND CYCLONES.


During recent Journey to Europe,
writes Thomas E. Hill in The National
Builder, the passage across the ocean
was especially unpleasant because of
fogs, the only consolation in contem-
plating them bein.g that they represent
ed the work of nature in drawing
moisture from the water, which, waited
inland, fell upon the soil in refreshing
rain, gathered in the brooks and rivers
and flowed to the sea, to be again thus
sent back to freshen and brighten the
parched earth. The speed of our
vessel was materially retarded by
winds from the west, common occur
renee in the summer season. The fogs
and moisture through these winds are
driven upon the continent where
drought seldom prevails, and particu-
larly do they freshen the verdure of
Ireland, and hence the brilliant green
of tue Emerald isle.
In rejecting upon this subject, |
contemplated the drought then pre-
vailing in several of the western and
middle states of the union. What had
they to gather rains from? Alas, what
have theyP For generation our
farmers have been draining their lands
| of moisture. They have run their
tiling through every slough; they have
drawn out the water from every
swamp; they have dried up the pond;
they have ohliterated the beautiful
little lake. In doing this they have
made such easy and rapid egress for
| rainfall from the soil as to endanger
81 lA Il III -,
settlers along the great rivers in the
southern regions of our country, al
ready intlicting great distress, loss of
life and property equaling in value
many millions of dollars - an evil
which is growing in magnitude every
year
The result of this wholesale drain
ing of the upper country of water is
! not only thus disastrous to life and
property along the larger streams
from frequent overflow, but there is
such absolute drainage of moisture
from the earth as to produce severe
drought, accompanied by such intense
heat and dryness of atmosphere as
results in the hurricane, the cyclone,
| and innumerable village, prairie, and
forest fires.
In the early days when the process
of evaporation of moisture went for
ward from the swamps, the ponds, and
lakes of our western and middle states,
an extended drought, with extremely
intense heat, was comparatively rare.
In those days sunstroke was very un-
common, and the cyclone was compar-
ativeiy unknown. This year we are
3 Il
various portions of the country, while
every year brings its devastation from
wind, the result of All excessively dry
and frequently disturbed condition of
the atmospheres
With the land thus denuded of
natural water supply, there is but one
course for our farmers to pursue to
save themselves from these evils.
They may drain their soil, but they
should gather the rainfall in ponds
and lakes scattered throughout their
lands. Instead of running the drains
throagf and out of the swamp they
should lead to an excavation of such
size as circumstances will permit,
which should be made at a depth of
three or four feet, where the water
can gather and will remain throughout
the year, quenching the thirst of ami
mails, giving drink to birds, reservoir
in case of fire, Il home for fish, a spot
of beauty on which may sail the boat,
an opportunity for the bath, and for
teaching the young people to swim.
1t will yield ice for the family, provide
skating for the happy youth in winter
time, and moisture, which, through
evaporation, will pass into the cloud
to be returned again through rainfall
to the needy earth.
No fear need be entertained of stag
nation from water thus held in re-
serve. Fish will of themselves purify
it. Every rain will change it, while,
if the lake covers an acre or more in
area, the wind will constantly keep it
pure. The writer, in proof of this.
has an artificial lake on his farm, the
result of dredging a swamp, which is
filled only by rainfall, the water being,
in the driest season, always perfectly
clear and fresh.
On the low lands the general aban-
donment of farms and homes from
river overflow will be the inevitable
outcome of this water wastage in the
high grounds. Such is already the
fact, while the expenditure of many
millions of dollars by the government
in the construction of levees and en-
bankments along the great rivers will
be necessary for the further protection
of adjoining property. Vastly better
that this expenditure be made in hold
ing the water where it is required in
the up-country. Dot the farms of our
inland states with ponds and minia-
ture lakes, and while they will afford
health, attraction, and pleasure in a
thousand ways, they will give us back
the uniform rainfall we had in the
early settlement of the country, when
successive seasons of drought, forest
fires, and cyclones were unknown.